Peessube-controlled mechanism fob hot-water systems



C. T. PENTON.

Mar. 20, 1923.

PRESSURE CUNTROLLED MECHANISM FUR HOT WATER SYSTEMS.

FILED JULY 8,1921.

4 l Ccm/Z Tupenon j Wr mi was-53 Patented Mar. 20,l 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL T. PENTON, 0F DETROIT, MCHIGAN.

PRESSURE-CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR HOT-WATER SYSTEMS.

Application led July 8,

To/.LZZ inkommay conce/rn.' l y Be it known that I, CARL T. PEN'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and tate of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Pressure-Controlled Mechanism for Hot- Vater Systems, of which the following is a specication. i

This invention relates to hot watersysl tems and more particularly to mechanisms automatically controlled by pressure of the water, when said pressure is relieved, as by opening ot' a valve or faucet.

It is the object of the invention to provide a mechanism, including a plunger subjected to pressure of the water in a hot water system, which mechanism will be actuable through shifting of said plunger upon relief of the pressure at one side thereof, and which. will initiate energization ot means for heating the flowing Water.

In attaining this object the invent-ion contemplates arranging a plunger to undergo a limited movement under pressure of the initial flow in a hot water supply pipe responsive to opening of a tap or faucet, said movement of the plunger opening ports for the passage of the water by the plunger, and at the same time actuatin a rock-shaft which closes a switch in an Electric circuit for heating the flowing water, or otherwise energizes water heating means.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a view in sectional elevation of the improved pressure controlled mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a view of the same in side elevation, showing furthermore the tap or faucet, which when opened produces automatic operation of the pressure controlled mechanism, the housing of the switch controlledl hy said mechanism being omitted in this View.

Fig. 8 is a vieu' of the device at right angles to Fig. 1.y and showing the mechanism partly in side elevation and partly in ser tion.

lu these views the reference character 1 designates a hot water delivery pipe and 2 a tap or faucet controlling the discharge trom said pipe. At any suitable point there is connected in said pipe a casing 3 having at opposite ends the inlet and outlet passages 4 and 5 for connection with the pipe l. G is a plunger passing through the casing 3,

1921. Serial N0. 483,173.

clear of vth'e'walls thereof, and havingr cylindrical end portions slidably engaging in the inlet and outlet passages 4 and 5. Within the inlet passage 4 a seat for said plunger is formed by an annular shoulder 7 and the plunger is urgedinto normal engagement wit-h said sea-t by a coiled spring 8 cornpressed within thel outlet passage 5 between the plunger and an annular plug 9 screwthreaded into the discharge end of said passage. The end portion of the plunger, engaging inthe inlet passage 4 is formed with adownwardly opening chamber 10 and with one or more outlet ports 11 in the wall of said chamber. A web or partition 12, normally Hush with the upper end of the passage 4, closes off said chamber from the casing 3, except through a very restricted orifice 13 in said web. When the plunger is raised to place the ports 11 in communication with the casing 3, water may enter the casing through said ports and may flow from the casing (provided the tap 2 is open) through a passage 14 formed in the upper end portion of the plunger. The central portion of the plunger consists simply of a bar connecting the cylindrical ends and formed with a pair of spaced integral lugs 15 projecting toward the plunger axis. Between saidy lugs there is engaged the ballheaded free end of an arm 16 mounted fast upon a rock-shaft 17. Said shaft is journaled in one wall of the casing 3 and has a portion projecting exteriorly of said casing, and rigidly carrying a switch contact arm 18. Normally this arm, as is best seen in Fig. 2, is spaced sufficiently from a fixed contact 19, carried by the casing 3, to break the circuit including the two said contacts. When, however, the plunger 6 is raised to the dash-line position shown in Fig. 1. the resultant rocking of the shaft 17 engages the switch arm 18 with the fixed switch contact 19 and closes the controlled circuit. 20 is a housing which is secured to the casing 3 by a pair of tap screws Q1 and encloses the switch 18, 19.

Considering now the complete operation of the described mechanism. when hot water is desired the tap or faucet 2 is opened. The water pressure upon the discharge side of the web 12 is thus relieved and the pre.CA sure upon the supply side of said weh orcrcomes the spring 8 and forces the plunger to the raised position shown in dash linesV in Fig. 1. This movement of the plunger places the ports 11 in openA communication with the casing 3 so that water' flows Continuously through said ports and to the tap 2 by way of the casingend passages 14 and 5. In shifting to its raised position the plunger 6 rooks thehaft 17 .owing to engagement with the arm 16, and rocking of said Shaft closes the;switeli-18,=j19. Closing of said switch is utilized in any desired manner` to effect energization of`a heater, electric or otherwise (not-shown). Thus heating of the water will beautomatically commenced through turning;V on -ofthe hot water supply. The small .orifice 13in the plunger functions to permit equalization of pressures above and below tlreweb 12 after cutting ofi of the How, thus penmittinglthe spring 8 to return the plunger to its nor mal engagement with the sent 7.

What I claim is:

In a pressure controlled mechanism, the

combination with, a. casing having a water inlet and a Water outlet arranged in opposed relation, a plunger havingl cylindrical end portionsiespectively slidably engaging in said inlet and outlet and havin a reduced intermediateportimimiedwit a pair of spaced projections, the outlet engaging end pertion.,of.sa,id plunger being tubular and the other end portion having ports normally closed: by the wall of the inlet, said ports being opened to establish a flow through the easing when, the .plunger is shifted from its normal position, -a rock-shaft journaled in a Wall of said casing and projecting exteriorly of the latter, andnn arm fast upon said rock shaft engaging at its free end between said projections upon the plunger.

Intestimony whereof I sign this specification.

CARL T. RENTON. 

